02/07 Correction: September Magazine. 66585 on the 6M04 11:26 Avonmouth -
Rugeley loaded coal service ran-round at Hereford - not at Stoke Gifford as
stated and returned to Bristol. The reason was given as off-loading problems
with an earlier service at Rugeley power station.
04/08 DBS liveried 59206 worked the 6C63 Westbury - Avonmouth import stone
empties (arriving at 12:55), returning the loaded train as 6Z64 16:59 to Acton
(via Didcot). Other locos recorded on this service during the month have been:-
66158 (12/08), 66145 (20/08) and a second appearance for 59206 (27/08), for the
latter two workings the return destination remained unconfirmed.
05/08 66147 was on the 6C90 09:45 (WO) Newport ADj - Avonmouth 'trip freight'
(noted passing Pilning at 10:10).
08/08 66109 arrived late morning on 4C55 09:08 Aberthaw - Avonmouth coal
empties.
11/08 The 1Z06 22:30 Temple Meads - Temple Meads 'structural gauging train' top
n'tailed by 31465 + 31233 visited Severn Beach, via Bath (passing here at 23:05
on the return), a reverse at Trowbirdge and then via Day's curve. The working
was noted arriving at Severn Beach at 23:59 (20 minutes early) leaving at 00:04
(27 minutes early on the 12/08) having been routed each way via Clifton Down.
Later the train was booked to run via Hallen Marsh to St.Andrews road calling
here between 02:34-02:44, returning to Temple Meads for 05:03, via Parkway and
East depot loop.
12/08 66187 was recorded leaving the Chittening Eastate at 11:14 with the
Wednesday's only return 6C97 Newport ADj trip freight. Further locos involved
with this working during the month have been;- 66154 (19/08) and 66172 (26/08).
By the end of the month, work had begun in earnest on demolishing and clearing
the former Britannia Zinc works site which closed in 2003, including the former
two-road loco shed and workshop. Although Didcot coal trains restarted during
the middle of the month, the flow could be in the long-term under threat with
part of Didcot power station being converted to gas powered.
Locos recorded on coal duty during the month have included:-
66030/099/109/119/124/158/204.

Bristol Parkway, Pilning and Westerleigh

26/06 Correction: August Magazine. Advenza 66841 with the reported northbound
ECS at 10:23 was from Temple Meads - Long Marston, not Gloucester as stated.
03/08 A 6Z87 10:25 Taunton - Crewe departmental working passed Pilning at 12:18
behind 66510. Stabled in the yard at the head of a rake of FHH coal hoppers was
66520 and 66527 passed through with empty mgr hoppers for Portbury.
04/08 The 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh loaded fuel tanks with 60059 failed at
Clunderwen, West Wales, being terminated at Margam. Later, 66561 was on the 6A21
Wentlooge - Theale loaded stone and 67017 + Royal 67005 passed Pilning at 14:38
top n'tailing the 2C79 14:00 Cardiff Central - Taunton First/GW local service.
05/08 60013 continued the previous day's 6B13 onwards to Westerleigh, where a
massive shunt involving up to 55 bogie tanks took place due to 60019 which
arrived on the 6V98 Lindsey - Westerleigh loaded fuel tanks, having to run
light-engine to Barton Hill for attention, prior to returning as 0B47 to
Westerleigh to work 6B13 empties to Robeston - 60013 being used on the 6E41
empties to Lindsey ! A repaired 60059 was then used on the 6A11/6B33 Theale tank
diagram.
07/08 The 6M17 Newport ADj - Wembley 'enterprise' freight service which passed
Parkway at 19:15 was treble-headed with 66157 + 66124 + 66031 and formed mainly
of 4-wheel TTA fuel tanks.
09/08 66510, 66527 and 66549 were stabled in the down-side at Stoke Gifford.
10/08 Same scenario as on 03/10 this evening, 66549 in the yard and 66561
heading for Portbury.
11/08 The 6L97 Port Talbot (Grange sidings) - Lea Interchange (Camden) Olympic
stone filler was powered by 66116.
14/08 The 6B49 Newport - Swindon loaded steel service was started at Alexandra
dock junction (instead of Llanwern) behind 66182. An eight coach Northern Belle
dining trip (1Z32 07:08 Liverpool Lime Street - Bath and 1Z33 18:18 return) was
top n'tailed by 67027 and 67002 via the Marches, Newport (10:16) and the Severn
Tunnel also being recorded passing Filton junction at 10:48 and North Somerset
junction at 11:05 (32 early!). The associated ECS moves were: 5Z32 12:00 Bath -
Swindon Transfer yard and 5Z33 17:35 return, which in fact arrived in Bath at
18:28 (15 late).
15/08 66112 + 60019 departed Westerleigh with a late running 6B47 empty fuel
tanks to Robeston.
16/08 66156 was on the 6O78 (formerly 6Z95) Margam - Dollands Moor export steel,
passing Parkway during the late afternoon, where earlier 66522 was reported as
shunting empty coal wagons.
17/08 Three workings recorded this evening, 66562 empty mgr bound for Portbury,
66206 with a "Scrap" train for South Wales. Lastly 66109 with a loaded
mgr, Avonmouth - Didcot, the first such service seen for months.
18/08 Due to problems with a leaking wagon on the 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh
loaded fuel tanks at Briton Ferry, the 1L42 Swansea - Paddington First/GW MGR
service ( with power cars 43020 + 43026), became 1Z42 onwards from Port Talbot,
and was reported as running 'several hours' late having been held close behind
the tank train. 66598 was on the morning 6A21 Wentlooge - Theale loaded stone.
19/08 66140 worked the 6V78 (ex. 6Z08) Dolland's Moor - Margam steel empties,
whilst later 66111 was in charge of the balancing afternoon 6O78 loaded service.
The 4V22 09:15 Fiddler's Ferry - Stoke Gifford coal empties were reported as
running 154 minutes late through Pontrilas at 16:47 behind 66553.
20/08 Quick visit this evening saw two freights, 66181 working Newport ADJ -
Wembley service and 66527 empty mgr to Portbury.
24/08 Freightliner loco activity in one case, the lack of it, 66623 stabled in
the yard and 66597 rolled through with empty MGR for Portbury. The Newport ADJ -
Wembley service seen headed by 66137, a little bit later 66138 powered the Mod
Liner.
25/08 66061 worked 6Z86 Uskmouth - Whatley stone empties via Day's curve and
passed Bath at 17:20, whilst load-haul 60059 was recorded at Pilning at 16:24 on
the 6B33 Theale - Robeston empty fuel tanks. 66549 passed Pilning with the 4V20
Fiddler's Ferry - Stoke Gifford coal empties at 15:05. DRS 37229 also appeared
early evening on a 6Z37 12:00 Ashford Down sidings - Cardiff Taff Vale sidings
departmental formed with two stone blowers.
27/08 66060 ran 0B33 09:20 Margam - Theale light-engine to assist the return
6B33 Theale - Robeston fuel tank empties, which had arrived 203 minutes late,
behind 60059 having suffered problems en-route with the inward 6A11 loaded
service.
27/08 Similar to 24/8, 66509 in the yard and 66553 sped through with empty MGR
for Portbury. 66030 worked an Avonmouth - Didcot MGR service with 66177 on the
MoD liner. Star turn was a returning Charter Service top 'n' tailed by 47760 and
47787, heading east.
28/08 The 4O51 Wentlooge - Millbrook containers passed through the area behind
66580, running 294 minutes late !!
31/08 SWT's 'hire' 158884 was recorded on the 10:52 Parkway - Great Malvern
First/GW service.
66522 and 66562 were stabled in Stoke Gifford sidings over the week-end period.

Bristol Temple Meads, Barton Hill and Kingsland Road

01/08 Compass Tour's 'Devon & Cornwall Explorer' (1Z91 05:17 Nantwich -
Penzance and 1Z92 15:23 return) was double-headed by 47843 + 47812 with
c/stock:- 35469, 3340, 3323, 3345, 3386, 3333, 1212, 5961, 6176, 6024. The
outward trip was noted through Parkway at 08:33 and Parson's Street at 09:12 (to
time), the return being noted near Uphill junction (Weston-super-Mare) at 19:19.
The Arriva/XC, National Express MGR 'hire', working the 1V45 07:00 Manchester -
Newquay and 1M70 15:22 return was formed with power cars 43307+43317 and
coaching set EC63. Royal 67005 + 67025 top n'tailed the 2O72 09:09 Temple Meads
- Weymouth and 2V67 16:56 return, DBS 'hire' First/GW Summer Saturday relief.
02/08 A1 'Peppercorn' 60163 Tornado worked the 'Torbay Express' (1Z27 09:15
Temple Meads - Kingswear and 1Z28 17:17 return). A return 6W12 19:30 (Sat)
Thingley junction - Exmouth junction engineers top n'tailed by 66144 + 66200 was
noted in platform 7 during the day, heading North awaiting a relief driver.
Later, the First/GW 15:07 (Sun) Penzance - Temple Meads service was recorded as
arriving at it's destination formed: 153318 + 153380 + 153361 + 142064 (the
latter two units being added at Exeter).
03/08 The 6M67 Bridgwater - Crewe nuclear flasks was noted headed by 37602 +
37609 when seen passing Parson's Street at 13:30. Later, the First/GW 17:30
Weymouth - Temple Meads service was reported as formed 153382 + SWT's 'hire'
158885 + 150239.
04/08 The 6Z83 11:40 Machen Quarry - West Drayton ARC loaded stone, headed by
59203 was routed via Filton, Dr. Day's curve and Bath where it was noted at
14:31.
05/08 66547 was on the 6Z21 20:53 (Tues) Hope (Earles sidings) - Moorswater
cement passing Worle (Weston-super-Mare) at 07:20 and arriving at it's
destination around 11:35, later returning the 6M37 empties. 60019, which was
unusually receiving attention at Barton Hill during the day, ran 0B47 to
Westerleigh for the late afternoon 6B47 empty tanks to Robeston.
06/08 Steam 70013 Oliver Cromwell worked Steam Dreams 'Cathederals Express',
1Z82 10:12 Waterloo - Temple Meads and 1Z83 17:40 which was recorded leaving
Bath at 18:05. SWT's 'Hire' 158890 + 150230 were paired on the 17:30 Weymouth -
Temple Meads First/GW service, whilst the NRMT was back in the area (running
with power cars 43013 + 43014) as 1Z17 17:30 Derby - Old Oak Common, via Temple
Meads, Worle junction 20:04 (1 minute late), Taunton arrive 20:31 (12 late)
departing 20:39 (right-time), Temple Meads and Bath 21:17 (7 early). An MGR
stock move was worked by GBRf 66707 as 5V66 Kilmarnock (Barclay's sidings) -
Laira, departing at 22:08 (11 early), formed 6330 + 42382 + 42383 + 6338. The
loco returned the two barrier vans as 5F70 13:05 Laira - Old Oak Common (via
Westbury), during the following day.
At Bath, approval has been given for a Newbridge park & ride, new rapid
transit guided bus link over part of the former Midland mainline trackbed, out
of the City (also see December 2008 Magazine, page 15) .
07/08 Following the failure of 66137 at Ashchurch on the 6Z59 15:29 Kingsbury -
Robeston tanks, several service alterations and late running was recorded.
Virgin XC's 1V66 14:08 Edinburgh - Plymouth was terminated at Temple Meads, but
continued onwards as 5V66 empty stock to it's destination, whilst the 1V67 18:05
Manchester - Plymouth was recorded West of Bristol, passing Bridgwater at 23:06
(91 late), being followed by the 1V68 15:08 Edinburgh - Plymouth at 23:09 (63
late) !
08/08 Steam 60163 Tornado worked Pathfinder Tour's 'Tamar Tornado' (1Z60 06:30
Birmingham International - Plymouth and 1Z63 16:07 return) onwards from Temple
Meads, having taken over from 67003. The tour was noted passing Malago at 09:32
with c/stock: 5350, 4927, W5009, 1863, W3107, W3140, 3112, 3122, 21272, M14007
(loco support coach). The Summer Saturday, National Express MGR power car 'hire'
diagram was in the hands of 43312 + 43277 working the Arriva XC's 1V45 07:00
Manchester - Newquay and 1M70 15:22 return. On the freight side, 66604 was
unusually routed via Bristol with a 6Z60 10:04 Bow East (Olympics) - Newton
Abbot train of stone empties (this service has normally run via Swindon,
Melksham and Westbury to the West in recent months), arriving in Swindon
Transfer yard early at 11:44, departing to time at 13:10 and passing through
Temple Meads at 14:02 and 66544 which was on a 6Z88 08:00 Crewe Gresty road -
Taunton Fairwater departmental, passing Lawrence Hill at 11:50 and Worle at
12:25. 67005 + 67025 were again on the Weymouth Summer Saturday First/GW
'relief' service.
09/08 Steam 60163 Tornado worked it's final 1Z27/1Z28 'Torbay Express' of the
2009 season, the return arriving in Temple Meads at 21:11 (28 early !). The
loco, which entered service at a cost of £3 million a year ago, became the 50th
A1 Peppercorn 4-6-2, taking on the next number in the series, the last original
loco having been scrapped in 1966. Running costs for the new locomotive have
been estimated at around £800,000 a year! Also during the day, with repair work
completed, the following booked Sunday's 'Torbay Express' steam loco to be -
6024 King Edward I - worked 5Z26 15:30 Bishop's Lydeard (WSR) - Barton Hill,
with support coach (W35333) and water tank wagon, being recorded leaving Yatton
loop (booked here between 17:06-17:18) at 17:24 (6 minutes late).
10/08 Late running was recorded during the morning period when the 06:11 Parkway
- Weston-super-Mare First/GW local service was involved in a foot-crossing
fatality near Weston Milton at 08:16. Later, steam 6024 King Edward I worked a
five coach 5Z18 09:41 Barton Hill - Shrewsbury test working (noted passing
Lawrence Hill at 10:10) and 5Z49 16:46 return, through Filton Abbeywood early at
20:50. With a 'Bernard Staite Salopian' headboard carried (in memory of the
former EWS railtour and special trains manager who retired in 2005 and sadly
passed away earlier this year), the train was reported to have additionally
picked up passengers at Pilning on the outward trip ! Also recorded during the
day, was the departure of 60163 Tornado from the area as 5Z27 Barton Hill -
Grove Park (Hither Green) with support coach (Keynsham 11:14) and 37602 + 37069
paired on the 6M67 Crewe nuclear flasks, which departed Bridgwater at 14:05 ( 3
late ).
11/08 GBRf 'Metronet' 66719 passed Temple Meads at 01:37 (24 late) with the 4V11
18:01 (Mon) Peterborough - Taunton Fairwater concrete sleepers and later, 66602
passed Filton Abbeywood at 09:39 (5 early) on a 6Z20 Taunton Fairwater -
Doncaster, second concrete sleeper move. The 2C89 19:00 Cardiff - Taunton First/GW
'hire' loco and coaches (with 67005 + 67025) was reported as terminated at
Temple Meads, it was assumed a unit had taken over the final leg of the diagram
to Taunton, the reason for this being unknown. Also during the day, the
'structural gauging train' was recorded as stabled in the west-end platform 2
bay formed: 31233 + DB975280+DB975081+DC460000+9708+977986 + 31465. The train
had arrived at 01:41 (194 early!) as 1Z06 21:52 (Mon) Derby - Temple Meads via
Kemble, a reverse at Swindon (the 3 hour booked stop here not taking place) and
via Bath passing here at 01:32.
12/08 31233 + 31465 top n'tailed the 'gauging train' as a 5Z06 09:57 Temple
Meads - Eastleigh (via Bristol West, Westbury and Salisbury) 'transit' move,
departing late at 12:05. Later, 67003 brought in the VSOE running as 1Z96 08:45
Victoria - Temple Meads (and returning as 1Z97 at 16:34). There had been
problems early on in the trip which was worked by steam 35028 Clan Line from
London to Westbury, the loco suffering injector and brake problems, 67003
assisting from the front for the journey onwards from Salisbury. Also reported
during the day were: 66522 on a 6Z87 12:25 Taunton Fairwater - Crewe Basford
Hall yard departmental, via the Severn Tunnel, and 66606 running 0M22 10:08
Kingsland Road - Westbury light-engine (noted Bath 10:22) for 6M22 Stud Farm
stone empties.
13/08 DBS liveried 59206 passed Dr. Day's junction at 16:15 and North Somerset
junction at 16:39, as 0F59 15:10 Machen Quarry - Westbury light-engine.
14/08 A 6Z85 15:20 Taunton Fairwater - Taunton Fairwater (via Westbury) HOBC
wagon turning move, headed by blue liveried 66623, was recorded as passing
Uphill junction at 16:25, Nailsea & Backwell at 16:35 and Temple Meads at
16:49.
15/08 67025 + 67005 again top n'tailed the First/GW Weymouth 'relief', whilst
National Express power cars 43309 + 43239 (and stock) were 'hired' by Arriva XC
for the 1V45 07:00 Manchester - Newquay and 1M70 15:22 return services. The
previous evenings 1V64 13:07 (FO) Edinburgh - Plymouth was running 65 minutes
late and terminated at Birmingham NS, with no train crew available, eventually
going forward as empty stock. This saw the 1S47 09:30 Newquay - Plymouth service
worked by 'hired' First/GW unit 150244 as far as Exeter, for the 1V64 ECS, with
Arriva XC power cars 43304 + 43378 to continue the 1S47 forward as booked. A
single railtour through the area for the day was Rail-blue Charters 'Seaside
Special' (1Z47 07:13 Chesterfield - Paignton and 1Z36 16:39 return) headed by
DRS duo 47501 + 47802 (noted passing Parson's Street at 11:13) with blue/grey
c/stock: 11083, 3374, 3232, 1254, 6173, 5919, 6122, 5971, 5995, 9506. The return
working was reported in trouble with 47802 being removed at Exeter, the train
departing here at 18:06 with 47501 solo, being seen passing Yatton at 19:04
around an hour down.
16/08 What was believed to have been air-brake problems with steam 6024 King
Edward I, saw Royal 67005 (from the DBS First/GW week-day loco-hauled operation)
used as a replacement on the day's 'Torbay Express'. The train operator 'Torbay
Express Ltd' stated after the trip, that it is hoped a second steam loco will be
kept at Barton Hill depot throughout the 2010 season in case of any future
operating problems.
17/08 DRS 37423 ran Crewe - Exeter light-engine to collect the failed 47802
(from 15/08) and return as 0Z47 08:25 Exeter St. Davids - Crewe, departing at
08:31 and passing Yatton at 09:31. Two further DRS locos in the Bristol area
were: 37602 + 37218 top n'tailing a newly formed 'Radio Survey Train 3' test
train formed with c/stock: 9481, 977997 (ex. 72613), 1256, 5981 running as 1Z12
Derby - Temple Meads (via a reverse at Newport between 18:10 - 18:18) and noted
in the platform 2, west-end bay at 20:30. SWT's 158889 was reported as on 'hire'
to First/GW during the day.
18/08 The 1Z12 continued radio mast work, running as 11:19 Temple Meads -
Aberystwyth, through Pilning at 11:32, Cardiff (reverse), Abergavenny (reverse),
Machen Quarry (reverse), Cardiff (reverse, again), Hereford and Shrewsbury top
n'tailed by 37602 + 37218. Also during the day: 142030 ran 5Z76 Cardiff Canton
sidings - Exeter St. Davids, as ECS, following attention and 66618 was on a 6Z88
10:45 Crewe Basford Hall yard - Taunton Fairwater departmental via the Marches
and the Severn Tunnel.
20/08 The Class 67 locos and 5 coaches worked in Devon on Dawlish
Carnival/Air-day 'shuttles' as 5Z60 09:44 Barton Hill - Exeter St.Davids ECS,
then 2Z60 11:33 Exeter - Newton Abbot with a further number of workings between
these two locations during the day, including a Paignton visit, until the 2Z67
19:45 Newton Abbot - Exeter, which formed a return 5Z67 20:25 Exeter - Barton
Hill ECS. In the meantime, SWT's 159009 covered the normal First/GW loco hauled
diagram (159105 being initially allocated for the duty), on completion of the
day's work, the set ran 5Z89 21:10 Taunton - Exeter New yard as empty stock.
Also noted was an unusual combination of 150279 + 158767 + 153373 on the 13:10
Weymouth - Gloucester First/GW service. The 1Z12 Radio tests train returned to
Temple Meads from Aberystwyth (via the Marches and the Severn Tunnel) just after
20:00 for stabling.
21/08 Virgin 'thunderbird' 57309 was again 'hired' to First/GW for the 1C99
Paddington - Penzance overnight sleeper service, 57602 leading the ECS into
Paddington. 57604 was on the 'up' sleeper (1A40). The 1Z12 was again active
still top n'tailed by 37602 + 37218, departing Temple Meads at 11:10 (97 late),
but passing Dr. Days junction at 11:12 (1 early!) due to a reverse at Bedminster
and East depot loop not taking place! Other train timings recorded were: Parkway
11:21 (1 early), Yate arrive 11:32/depart 11:42 (right time), Temple Meads
(reverse), Newport arrive 12:43 (19 early) and depart 12:53, Patchway 13:15 (1
late), then onwards via a second reverse at Temple Meads, Pilning, Severn Tunnel
junction (reverse), Chepstow (reverse), Newport (reverse), Lydney, Gloucester to
Derby. Seen at 11:30 were 67005/025 working the loco hauled passenger service in
top 'n' tail mode.
22/08 Top 'n' tail Loco hauled service seen heading towards Temple Meads this
morning at 09:25 using 67005/016. 'Hire' Virgin 57309 returned on the 1A40
Penzance - Paddington First/GW service, 67005 + 67025 top n'tailed the First/GW
2V67/2O72 Bristol - Weymouth 'bucket & spade' seaside relief and West Coast
locos 47760 + 47786 top n'tailed Nenta Tour's 'Cheddar Gorge & the Welsh
Capital' (1Z61 05:04 Norwich - Cardiff Central and 1Z62 16:40 return) arriving
in Bath at 10:31 (9 early), departing at 10:35 (8 early), passing near Keynsham
at 10:42 and Filton at 11:22, following a Temple Meads stop and reverse. The
return was recorded passing Horfield at 17:21, the c/stock in use being: 3359,
Ullswater (99678), 3360, 3362, Grasmere (99671), 1201, 6022, 6103, 6000, 9516.
An MGR power car check for the day found the following in use by Arriva XC;-
National Express 'hire' 43309+43239 (on the usual Summer Saturday 1V45 07:00
Manchester - Newquay and 1M70 15:22 Manchester - Plymouth return with stk EC61),
along with: 43285/301/303/321/357/366/378/384. 43301 + 43303 working the 1V48
06:40 Newcastle - Penzance was terminated at Plymouth due to late running
eventually returning North from here at 18:21 on the 1E73 16:25 Penzance - Leeds
service. Locos stabled in Kingsland Road during the day were recorded as :
66560, 66596, 66598, 66622.
23/08 Steam 6024 King Edward I worked a trouble free 'Torbay Express'
(1Z27/1Z28) out and back to Kingswear. Some Freightliner departmental activity
during the day found: 66606 + 66618 top n'tailing a 6Y11 Thingley junction -
Taunton Fairwater HOBC mid-morning off Temple Meads and later 66618 on a 6Z85
19:20 Taunton Fairwater - Taunton Fairwater wagon turning move via Bridgwater
(noted at 19:35) and Bristol to Westbury.
24/08 A second, for the year Class 66 (66006 being used on 23/01, see the March
Magazine) No 66153 worked the First/GW, DBS loco and stock 'hire', in place of
67025. The 66 had run 0O04 04:05 Westbury - Barton Hill light to join Royal
67005 (and c/stock: 6064, 6117, 6008, 9508) with a late ecs move off Barton
Hill, the 2D04 07:28 Taunton - Parkway was noted at Highbridge at 08:35 (17
late), was then terminated at Temple Meads (a Class 153 working to and back from
Parkway as part of the working), then continuing the 2Y10 09:13 Parkway - Weston
(onwards from Temple Meads) for the 2U14 11:02 Taunton - Cardiff (with a Parkway
reverse) and completing the day's diagram as booked. Other records for the day,
saw: 66606 on a diverted 6C73 Westbury - Taunton Fairwater departmental formed
with Carillion and HOBC wagons (Bridgwater 14:50), 66620 on a 6Z20 Taunton
Fairwater - Doncaster sleeper train, 31465 on 1Z14 06:40 Derby - Exeter (via
Parkway, Day's curve, Bath, Salisbury, Yeovil junction and Pinhoe) and a second
departmental (formed with c/stock: 72671, 999606, 9714) headed by 31602 carrying
curved Driver Dave Green nameplates and 19B shed plates !
25/08 GBRf 66721 passed Bath at 23:33 with the 4V11 Peterborough - Taunton
Fairwater concrete sleepers, whilst 66614 worked the 6Z21 Hope (Earles sidings)
- Moorswater loaded cement, later returning the 6M37 empties. A return to normal
motive power for the First/GW 'hire' Class 67 s and stock with Royal 67005 +
67016, 66153 being returned with 67025 as 0F75 06:00 Barton Hill - Westbury (for
Eastleigh) passing Bath at 07:57 (29 late). The Class 67 was later recorded as
part of the 6V27 13:50 Eastleigh yard - Oxford Hinksey yard departmental behind
66111, en-route to Toton for attention. Also recorded during the day was 66619
returning from the North (on a 6Z20 sleeper move) as 0Z21 17:45 Doncaster decoy
- Taunton Fairwater light-engine via Chepstow and a reverse at Cardiff, then
through Severn Tunnel junction at 23:17. A National Express power car 43315 was
noted 'on hire' to Arriva XC working the 1E63 15:21 Plymouth - Leeds service
with second power car 43207 and coaches XC02. An early evening incident in the
Bath area saw the 15:30 Paddington - Weston-super-Mare First/GW service (with
power cars 43134 + 43025) held outside Twerton Tunnel having struck an
unidentified object in the tunnel. 150121 on a following service was held inside
the tunnel until a NR Movements Operation Manager arrived on the scene to carry
out checks.
26/08 67008 brought ecs into Bristol off a 1V80 09:45 Victoria - Bath VSOE
during the early afternoon and 31602 was on an evening 4Z08 Exeter - Temple
Meads test working.
27/08 66562 worked the 6V20 Hope (Earles sidings) - Westbury loaded cement,
being reported as held at Bristol East at 03:50 en-route. 31602 was noted
stabled on the former Bath Road depot spur with a test train formed with driving
van 9714 and DBS liviered 59206 headed the 6C63/6C64 Irish import stone empties
and loaded return (via Day's curve), being recorded through Filton Abbeywood at
12:19 outward and 17:30 on the return. Statesman Rail's 'The English Riviera
Statesman' (1Z93 08:10 Nottingham - Kingswear and 1Z94 17:15 return) which was
reported as fully booked, was top n'tailed by West Coast Railway's 47760 + 47787
(both complete with silver buffers and carrying a 'Statesman' headboard out and
back) with West Coast c/stock: 17080, 3231 Apollo, 3188 Sovereign, 1659, 3345,
3386, 3333, 3314, 1212, 5961, 6176. The special was recorded on the outward
through Parkway at 10:47 and Worle at 11:21, the return being seen near
Highbridge at 19:47.
28/08 The 1A40 Paddington - Penzance First/GW sleeper service was worked by
'hire' 57309. Later a Northern Belle dining trip ran as 1Z26 06:37 Birmingham
International - Totnes and 1Z27 18:15 return behind 67003 being noted departing
Yatton loop (as booked at 08:56, 2 early). The return working was via the
Weston-super-Mare loop (19:39, 5 early), and arrival in Temple Meads then being
at 19:57 (4 early) and departure at 20:06 (right time!). Also, earlier during
the morning, 31602 was reported as stabled under the canopy on a test working.
29/08 66158 was on the morning 6M60 00:30 Tavistock yard - Bescot down side
china clay and 67005 and 67016 top n'tailed the second last First/GW Weymouth
'bucket & spade' Summer Saturday 'relief' of 2008. Some Arriva XC, MGR
records for the day were:- National Express 'hire' 43206 + 43295 on the 1V45
07:00 Manchester - Newquay (and return 1M70 15:22 Newquay - Manchester). 43357 +
43378 1V47 06:12 Edinburgh - Plymouth. 43301 + 43285 1V48 06:40 Newcastle -
Penzance. 43303 + 43304 1S47 09:30 Newquay - Edinburgh. 43366 + 43207 1V54 07:00
Glasgow Central - Newquay.
30/08 Steam 6024 King Edward I powered the final 1Z27/1Z28 'Torbay Express' of
August, carrying an outward 'B70' headcode and a return ' H40'.

Cardiff Central

18/08 60059 passed at 12:15 on a late running 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh
loaded tank train, following reports of a 'leaking' tank wagon at Briton Ferry.
Advenza 66841 was stabled in the station area during the morning.
19/08 Advenza 66844 had joined 66841 stabled in the station area.

05/08 60096 was on the overnight 6V19 Scunthorpe - Margam freight service
passing at 08:47. Later the 6M82 18:25 Newport ADj - Crewe Basford Hall yard
passed at 18:30 headed by 60096 + 66004.
24/08 66158 passed at 22:28 with the 6C99 Newport ADj - St.Blazey 'enterprise'
freight.
Week-end re-signalling work has been taking place in the station area including
work on the platforms.

Portbury Branchline

20/07 Correction: September Magazine. The 'Coal-stone Haul' railtour was
worked over the branch by 31105 + 31285, not 31233 + 31285 as stated.
Locos recorded on coal duty during the month have included:- 66007/119/232.
66506/509/510/522/527/549/551/553/560/566/597/599/957.

Weymouth

01/08 73204 + 73141 arrived at 12:43 on a UK Railtour's 'Weymouth Seaside
Special' (Waterloo - Weymouth), returning as 16:38 Weymouth - Victoria. The
return departure was followed at 16:56 by the First/GW 'hire' loco-hauled local
service top n'tailed by Royal 67005 + 67025.
19/08 37706 ran 0Z92 05:53 Southall - Weymouth light-engine to assist with a
'Weymouth Sunny South' excursion (1Z92 08:10 Clapham junction - Weymouth) headed
by steam 34067 Tangmere (in place of the booked 70013 Oliver Cromwell) and the
steam loco move to Yeovil junction (noted Maiden Newton at 14:21) for servicing
and turning. A similar trip on 09/07 suffered late running due to a fire on
37706, which meant Tangmere tackled Upwey bank (near Weymouth) with no assisting
loco on the rear for the return journey to London.

Well, here we go again for yet another review of the past month for me
personally and some bits and bobs of general news concerning the freight scene.
One of the things that has been noticed in my neck of the woods has been the
replacement of the new continental-registered yellow boxes (31.70.5992.xxx
series) with older NLU29xxx series vehicles which are back on the Westbury
service to Mountsorrel. Actually it isn't all bad because in the said consist on
Thursday 8th February were new vehicles 31.70.5892.010/021/002/012/032 and 003!
Also there is a working of the monstrous "Octopus" train through
Leicester at about 18.30 routing Whitemoor-Bedford. On the same Thursday, 8th
October, the train, top and tailed by 66957 and 66952, consisted of the
following vehicles:
92355/356/340/336/371/335/338/352/369/372/333/351/342/373/376/375/374/367/366/368/365/339/343/370/345/348/346/344/334/332/331/353/341/354/350/349/361/362/363/364,
76502, 92706! Magnificent sight! Just to round of a busy evening at Leicester we
also had 66614 on the Lafarge bogie cement tanks, 66060 on the Colnbrook-Lindsey
bogie tanks and 66522 and 66520 top and tailed on the following engineers'
service: 29527/212/369/133/512
29512/537/307/162/033/424/073/339/341/278/435/080/205/491, 503109/094. Anyway, I
mentioned in last month's tome that I was heading to Barnetby on 17th September.
Well, this I did - and had a wonderful day. Arriving at about 0800 and departing
at 1830 I logged 52 freight movements (about one every eleven minutes)! Most
were coal, and the ore was running at capacity, but these were interspersed with
oil, steel, a couple on enterprise workings and engineers'. I'm not going to
list all I saw, but will pick out some of the highlights (to me anyway!).
Firstly, GBRf 66722 with the following coal service:
33.70.6955.242/243/234/232/221/
228/229/230/226/231/239/200/236/238/237/244/240/227/235/233/225. Then 66139 with
the following oil service: 870234/276/312/200/317/254/339/309/315/
303/296/278/341/330/208/337/213/323/240/255/273/321/274/308, 85963/49/64,
82209/12. Then the first of two strange Freightliner services, using the 369xxx
aggregate hoppers on coal! Westbound was 66544 with the following consist:
369041/008/002/056/119/064/121/085/068/042/060/069. Then 66129 with another oil
service: 870289/222/215/332/217/239/230/329/259/334/306/
277/211/298/204/252/266/220/245/233, 85970/55/46, 82762. A small eastbound
Enterprise working was then noted in the charge of 66035: 964035, 3073, 3068,
33.70.2795.335. Another GBRf coal headed by 66723:
371032/013/100/031/097/090/103/098/093/104/105/042/112/109/114/113/108/035/106/111/096/102/024/039.
Then the second of the "strange" Freightliner coal working lead by
66547 consisting of: 369036/031/050/035/027/
058/026/059/089/021/118/051. Next up was the westbound Enterprise headed by
66139. Its consist being: 70061, 58264, 88032, 31.80.4667.081/068, 610225/226,
81.70.4908.144, 43.87.4333.050/034/031/015/0343/036. Another oil service, this
time hauled by Freightliner 66616, with the following in tow:
88053/074/025/027/171/052/024/146/155/034/167/022/075/173/030/170/
073/049/029/061/036/055/068/166/145/077/072/043, 871002/004 (these last two
vehicles being two of a class of only six bogie tanks in Freightliner green
livery). Noted next was 66078 with the following rake of MEAs (which I believe
to be the coal service to the cement plant at Rugby):
391531/311/598/561/256/272/228/468/464/535/697/362/112/330/299/
579/320/307/260/548/384/363/126/308/268/690/117/232/525/211/040/317/506. The
final train of the day, and nice to see, was 60085 on the following rake of
bogie fuel tanks: 870228/316/340/264/299/322/335/232/285/209/207/
3367/201/236/246/319/270, 86935/48/57/38/36/55/34, 88158/164, 82752. Well,
that's about it. Interspersed into all the freight are the passenger services -
an hourly Newark-Grimsby using East Midlands trains class 153s and the hourly
Manchester Airport-Cleethorpes service using Trans-Pennine class 185s (although
one of these services on the day I was there was worked by 170.309). A pub
serving food adjacent to the station and a chip shop 100 yards away, toilets at
the bottom of the station drive and what more could you wish for! Great spot.
Hope I've not rambled on too much. Have fun and more in a month.

Avon Valley Railway, Bitton.04/08 A double celebration took place on this date marking the 140th
anniversay of the opening of the Midland mainline line in 1869 between Bristol
and Bath (a Queen Victoria actor in fancy dress being present on the platform at
Bitton during the day to mark the occasion !) and the 35th anniversary of the
re-opening of this part of the line as a preserved railway.

Road Movements25/08 Steam 5619 heading South in the M4/M5 junction area (and Cribbs
Causeway) at 09:45. Another lorry carrying a Vulcan bomber fusilage was also
seen travelling close behind!

MISCELLANEOUS

Bristol - Taunton linePlans to increase line capacity in the Weston-super-Mare area at Worle
junction have now been dropped by Network-Rail. The 2007 proposed junction
improvements, along with the re-doubling of part of the Weston loop (which was
singled in the early 1970s as part of the then major Bristol Multi-Aspect
Signalling scheme), from Worle to Weston Milton were due start in 2014, but
funding for this project has now been re-directed elsewhere. Also, in the Weston
area, a covert camera operation set up by North Somerset Council at Wick Road,
West Hewish to enforce a 7.5 tonne weight limit has reduced the number of HGVs
using the bridge. Warning notices have been sent to companies caught breaking
the weight limit reducing 'mis-use' to virtually nil. Network-Rail has included
the bridge in it's 2011/2012 maintenance plan and a 26 tonne limit is expected
to be in place once the work has been completed.
Moving closer to Bristol, the increase of station car-parking prices from £1.00
- £2.10 (a 110% increase!) at Yatton have not been popular with passengers.
Yatton's local Somerset Council representative is to contact First/GW to
complain about the new price, a major concern being customers parking their
vehicles on nearby roads instead of using the car-park. It is also understood,
passengers with cars using stations at Yate and Keynsham also face a similar
increase on parking charges.

More Electrification ?Following on from last month's news item concerning the electrification of
the Great Western mainline from Paddington to Bristol and South Wales, the
Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) have announced they are keen to
see a further 10 routes included nationwide. An additional 400 miles need to be
considered, including between Ipswich and Felixstowe and the Bristol -
Birmingham mainline (via Cheltenham). The change of these diesel powered routes
to a 25,000 volt overhead wires electric railway would take 10 years to complete
at a cost of around £500 million, but an estimated 85,000 more passengers a day
or an increase of 35% would be expected and carbon emissions could be reduced by
up to 75,000 tonnes or 30%.

Correction: New Loco-hauled Service (August Magazine)The starting date of the proposed second First/GW 'hire' DBS Class 67s and
stock diagram should read December 2009 not 2010 as stated.